Indian Railways appoints “Gate-Mitras” with special devices on unmanned railway crossings; here’s why

Indian Railways steps up focus on safety. Soon, at unmanned railway crossings, railway employees, also being called “Gate-Mitras” with dedicated or special phone-like devices will be appointed.

The devices are being tried out by East Central Railway is an interim measure to finally eliminating all unmanned crossings. According to an East Central Railway official that Financial Express Online spoke to, the zone plans to eliminate unmanned level crossings by September 2018.

The new devices allow the station master to press a button to inform the corresponding “Gate-Mitra” about an incoming train. The Gate-Mitra, in turn, has to make sure that there is no vehicular movement on the tracks till the train passes by.

In case of an emergency, like a vehicle breakdown on tracks, the railway employee appointed at the unmanned crossing will press the button of the dedicated or special phone/device, the message to stop the train will be sent to the station master. Read More